40.260.160    Nursery Schools, Preschools, Kindergartens, Commercial Day Care Centers, and Family Day Care

A.    Nursery schools, preschools, kindergartens and commercial day care centers shall comply with the following criteria:

1.    Minimum site size shall be ten thousand (10,000) square feet, except, when a preschool, kindergarten or commercial day care center is designed as a part of an integrated industrial, commercial or multifamily development, in which case the minimum lot size may be reduced by the review authority, provided all other applicable code requirements are met.

2.    Provide and maintain outdoor play areas with a minimum area of one hundred (100) square feet per individual based upon total capacity.

a.    The outdoor play area requirement shall not apply to strictly “drop-in facilities” where the individuals cared for are not on the premises for more than three (3) hours in a twenty-four (24) hour period; provided, that the requirements of the Washington Administrative Code are met.

b.    Facilities with a capacity of forty (40) individuals or more, under the licensing authority of the state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), and with an approved “shifting schedule” for the use of outdoor play area by DSHS, may calculate the outdoor play area based on one hundred (100) square feet per individual using the outdoor area at any one (1) time; however, a minimum of four thousand (4,000) square feet of outdoor play area must be provided.

c.    Facilities with a capacity of thirty-nine (39) or less, or which do not qualify with a “shifting” schedule as stated above, may count up to fifty (50) square feet of dedicated indoor play area per individual of capacity toward the outdoor play area requirements.

3.    The play area shall be abutting the indoor facility.

4.    A sight-obscuring fence of at least four (4) feet, but not more than six (6) feet in height, shall be provided around the outdoor play area.

5.    Adequate off-street parking and loading space shall be provided pursuant to Chapter 40.340.

(Amended: Ord. 2008-06-02)

B.    Family day care facilities shall comply with the following criteria:

1.    When located in a resource, rural or residential zone (R1-5, R1-6, R1-7.5, R1-10, R1-20, R-12, R-18, R-22, R-30, R-43, OR-15, OR-18, OR-22, OR-30, OR-43, R-5, R-10, R-20, FR-80, FR-40, AG-20, and AG-WL districts), no exterior structural or decorative alteration which will alter the residential character of a residence is permitted.

2.    Adequate off-street parking and loading space shall be provided pursuant to Chapter 40.340.

3.    Two (2) nonresident or non-family member employees are permitted if located within a resource, rural or residential zone.

4.    Signage shall be limited to one (1) sign, not to exceed two (2) square feet in area, for identification purposes only.

(Amended: Ord. 2016-06-12; Ord. 2017-07-04)